Dirigible spotlight for motor-vehicles



cm s. SAKANASHL v DIRIGIBLE SPOTLIGHT FOR MOTQR VEHICLES.

APPLICAHON HLED DEC. \3, .1920.

' Patented June 14, 1921.

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.gible Spotlights with the direction of travel of plied to the steering UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

CHARLES S. SAKANASI-Il', OF SAN MATEO, CALIFORNIA.

DIRIGIBLE SPOTLIGHT FOR MOTOR-VEHICLES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES S. San- NASIII, a subject of the Emperor of Japan, residing at the city and county of San Mateo and State of California, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Diri- Which the following is a specification. The present invention relates to mechanism for causing a spot light within convenient reach of the vehicle operator, preferably adjacent the steering compartment of the vehicle to turn or move in accordance the vehicle enabling the roadway ahead in making turns to be illuminated and to permit the driver to illuminate signs and the like alongside the roadway, or license numbers on passing vehicles.

The object of this invention is to provide a construction preferably operated from the main steerlng gear by flexible members such as cables and the like, providing a construction which is capable of being manufactured at little cost, and one which is constructed like expensive mechanisms which materially increase the cost of devices of this type now on the market.

Another object is to provide a take-up or adjustment between the cable mechanism and the lamp support whereby the position of steering gear.

, With the above mentioned and other objects in View, the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and set forth in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims may beresorted to without departing, from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings disclosing one embodiment of the invention I Figure l is a view in side elevation of the preferred embodiment of my invention apgear of a vehicle, and illustrating the same with the vehicle fender removed. i

Specification of Letters Patent.

for lllotor fehicles, of

13, 1920. Serial No. 430,229.

Y connection between the vehicle steering arm and the spot light operating mechanism illustrating the form of clutch mechanism desired to be employed. Fig.5 1s a view in front elevation partly in section of the chi ch mechanism.

Fig. is a sectional view on line 77 of Fig.

Fig. 8 is a view of a portion of the clutch throw-out lever with the flexible operating member connected therewit Fig. is a view in detail of the holding mechanlsm for the clutch throw-out lever.

Fig. 10 is a sectional View of the tensioning means for the flexible member.

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts, 1 indicates the body, 2 the frame and 3 the front steering wheels of a motor driven ve- The vehicle is provided with a main steering gear lever t connected with the front wheels through the usua drag link 5 and the well known steering mechanism. Extending vertically, either exteriorly or interiorly of the body 1 of the vehicle is a tubular guide 6, provided at its opposite ends with grooved idlers or wheels '7'. To the wind shield standard 8 or to any other portion of the vehicle body adjacent the steering wheel is preferably secured a supporting bracket 9 held in position by suitable n nism such as a clamp nut 10, and this r clret preferably is disposed in a horizontal position. Extending laterally from the bracket 9 and free to rotate axially in a horizontal plane is a support 11, to the outer end of which is secured in any suitable manner a mounting plate 12. Extending through an opening in the bracket 12 is a tubular support 13 through and above which extends a threaded shaft lt which carries on its lower end a tension nut 15 between which and the lower end of the member 13 is ina tension spring 16. To that por A; immediately above the upper surface of the member 13 and mounted to rotate about said upper end of the member 13 is a segmental plate 17, having Patented June 14, 1921.

of a suitable dirigible lamp 5 the rotation of of the flexible members nected as in Figs.

13 in any suitable manner e1 e0 flanged plate 80 which extends to a through which trated in from Fig. 2 that the plate 17 falls short around the same,

10 and at said point the plate is provided with the upwardly extending lugs 22 disposed in spaced parallel relation, and between whicl 'extends a threaded adjusting screw 23 mounting an adjusting nut 2%, which, on the screw 23 adapted for movement over the surface of the plate 1'? transversely of said memberl l.

Through an opening 25 in the nut adapted to pass a flexible member 2% re *eiv- 2o able on the axial rotation of the plate l7 within the peripheral groove 18, as illus trated Fig. 2, said flexible member 26 being held in the nut in any suitable manner as by a clamp screw 26. The portions 26 extending from opposite sides of the plate 1'? passover the member 7 at the upper endof the tube 6 through the tube and over the members 7 at the lower end thereof, they being con- 5 and of the drawings,

to the opposite ends of the radially d nosed arms 27. To conceal the lower port 11 of the nut 15 and sprine 16 secured to the member her by threadale tube the member 13, there is detachably ing or frictional connection, a an 29 which forms a handle when it i desired to manually operate the lamp 21. To conceal the plate 1'4", 1 position thereover a point to overlie the groove 18, and said plate capable of axial movement about the shaft i l, thus on the operation of the shaft i l through the flexible connection 26, the member 30,

' 26 extends,

the connection remains stationary and the plate 1.7 rotates therein. To maintain the flexible connec tion 26 under tension at all times to insure successful operation of the apparatus, T

50 mount the wheels 7 preferably at the lower end of the guide 6 in suitable blocks 31 pesitioned within vertical guides 32, and normally held downwardly by coiled springs 33, this construction being particularly illus- Figs. 1 and 5.

A modified structure for accomplishing this purpose is illustrated in l0, 2 the same consists in providing a lower .ie section 3 telescoping in the main section,

-and the lower section carrying the wheel 7 and normally forced downwardly by a'coiled spring 34 within the main section, the sprin hearing at one end of the upper section 8% and at its upper end against a ring 35. This construction also enables the flexible member tooperate withinthe tube 6 and normally separates the axes of rotation o the wheels 7 opposite ends of the tube, thus maintaining the flexible members under tension. I

To interrupt the operation of the lamp, in synehronism with the turning of the vehicle steering wheels during the day, or at such other time as it is'desired to permit the lamp to remain stationary, 1 provide a clutch. mechanism between the vehicle steering gear and the point of operative connection of the flexible members, and the preferred embodiment thereof is constructed as follows 1 Secured to the frame 2 1, 5 and 6 of the drawings, from the same extends a tubular sleeve 37 provided in its wall adjacent its inner end with the pin receiving slots 38. Mounted on the inner end of the sleeve to rotate axially abouttne same between the retainers 39 is a lever hub l0 carrying a lever ll connected through a link a2 with the member 5. Mounted on the sleeve 37 to slide longitudinally "hereof. and to rotate axially thereon is a clutch collar 50, from diametrically opposite sides of which extend the lateral arms 27, to the end of each one of which is is a plate 36, Figs.

connected, as at 45, one end of the flexible connection Carried by the end of the sleeve 37 is a retaining disk '16, and surrounding the sleeve 37 andbearing against the disk and the outer face of the lever hub 4:0, is a spring l? for normally engaging said clutch members. Suitable pins 48 pro iect from opposite sides of the collar 50, and the ends as thereof are receivable in recesses 48 in the hub 4L0 when. the clutch is in engaged positionQ The ends 42 of the pins l8 engage in recesses 48 in the inner face of the disk 46 when the clutch is disengaged, and hold the clutch collar in a predeter; lined position to insure the proper alinement of the lamp 21 with thevehicle steering wheels 3 when the clutch is again engaged. V 1

A clutch release bolt 51 is longitudinally movable within the'sleeve 37 and carries transverse pins 52 operating within slots 38 within the sleeve. The belt carries on its outer end a "'eore'd head 53 within which is received the forked end of a clutch operating lei'er 54. fulcrumet as at 55 to the plate The end 55 of the'lever connect-s as at 55 with an operating cord .56, which extends laterally from the edge thereof, and operates in a guide 57 associated with the vehicle. The upper end of the operating cord extends within convenient reach of the vehicle operator, and is provided with a retaining button or member 58 receivablein a slotted retainer 59 when it is desired to retain or hold the clutch in disengaged position. An upward pull on the cord 56 imparts a movement to the forkedend 53 of and outwardly the tension of the spring 47 and thus release the clutch with the ends 48 of the pins in therecesses in the disk 46. The release of tension on the cord 56 when the vehicle steering wheels are directed to steer the vehicle straight ahead enables the spring to force the clutch into engagement with the openings in the lever hub 40.

I ving thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is In combination with the steering mechanism of a motor vehicle, a support secured to the vehicle, an auxiliary rotatable supporting member journaled therein, a lamp structure secured to the supporting member and rotatable therewith, a segmental plate seber and provided with a grooved periphery, a flexible operating member extended from opposite points on said plate and receivable in said groove on the axial rotation of the supporting member, said flexible member being operativelyconnected to said steering mechanism to axially rotate said support on the operation of said steering mechanism, a nut to which said flexible member is secured, an adjusting screw carried by the plate and held from longitudinal movement thereon,

a threaded connection between said screw and nut, and means for maintaining said flexible members under tension.

2. In combination with the steering mechanism of a motor vehicle, a dirigible lamp structure carried by the vehicle, a pair of flexible members extending from said lamp structure, a tubular guide through which said members extend and within which the same operate, said members being disposed angularly from opposite ends of said tube, rollers at the opposite ends of said tube and over which said connections operate, means for normally forcing the centers of axial rotation of the rollers at opposite ends of the tube from each other to maintain said flexible members under tension, a clutch plate adjacent to the lower end of the tube and to opposite points on members are plate, extended therefrom and connected with the vehicle steering gear, means for normally maintaining said clutch hub and plate in engaged relation, and means for releasing the clutch plate and hub to permit the manual operation of the lamp independently of the direction of steering of the vehicle.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

CHARLES S. SAKANASHI. 

